 DEBBY FELKEL
Age 54
Debby at Providence Holy
Cross Medical Center
Debby has wanted to be a nurse for as long as she can
remember. After high school, she entered a nursing college in L.A. She was
married shortly after that and found it necessary to withdraw before
completing the program due to the birth of her first child. She took a few
night classes at GCC and planned to re-enter the program, but. . . another
child was soon on the way. Debby’s plans to go back to nursing school
continued to be interrupted as the family eventually expanded to include
nine children.
Several years ago, Debby and her husband were at their
son’s baseball game, across the street from the GCC campus. He suggested
that perhaps it was time for her to go back to school. A neighbor (and
nurse) had previously suggested GCC’s Nursing Program. Debby came back to
complete some necessary courses in 1997 and entered the nursing program in
1999. In May 2001, her life-long dream became a reality. With her three
youngest children still in high school, Debby graduated from the nursing
program. A few months later she passed the state exam to become a licensed
registered nurse.
Debby
currently works at Providence Holy Cross Medical Center in the
maternity/child health department taking care of moms and babies and as a
lactation educator. In addition to her nine children, she now also has nine
grandchildren. She just can’t get enough of babies! Debby credits her GCC
nursing instructors as being of extraordinary caliber, and the staff as
extremely supportive. She cites instructors Lynn Mizuno (microbiology) and
Kindra Girard (anatomy) as her mentors, and for making it exciting to learn.
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